Electron-discharge device and method of making the same



Dec. 3, 1929.1 H. J. VAN'DER BIJL ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE AND METHOD OF'MAKING THE SAME I Filed D90 4, 1913 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFIACE HENDRIX 3'. VAN DER BIJL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,- ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC I COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OE NEW' YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW "YORK ELECTRON-DISCHARGE DEVICE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Application filed December 4, 1918. Serial No. 265,222.

This invention relates to electron discharge devices such as may be employed for amplifiers, detectors, repeaters and the like and has for an object to provide a simple and efficient m disposition of the electrodes.

This object is attained by symmetrically disposing a grid electrode around a cathode and by symmetrically disposing an anode around the other two electrodes. The elecm trons may then pass from the cathode to the anode in numerous radial directions, the radial paths being intercepted and efficiently controlled by means of the grid electrode which surrounds the filament or cathode.

The above arrangement of electrodes may be mounted in a very simple manner without the use of glass arborsby employing comparatively heavy supporting wires which are connected at one end to the electrodesand at e their other ends to the so-called press or squash which is the termination of the inwardly projecting tubular portion in which the lead wires are sealed.

The specific forms of electrodes chosen by way of illustration are a straight filamentary cathode surrounded by a helical grid and a cylindrical anode. Another feature of the invention has to do with the assembly of these electrodes according to which the anode is slipped over the grid, the filament being mounted along the axis of the grid. In case the grid is mounted first, the anode is apertured so that it may pass the grid support, the filament being finally mounted in position.

lt or further details of the invention reference may be made to the drawing in which the single figure indicates in perspective a vacuum tube constructed in accordance with the present invention, this tube being connected in a conventional repeater circuit.

Referring to the drawing the vacuum tube 1 comprises the usual inwardly projecting tubular portion 2, which terminates in the press or squash 3, in which the various supporting and leading-in wires are sealed. The

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cathode in this case is shown as taking the I form of a straightwire 4, which is supported by the relatively heavy wires 5 and 6, one end an of each of which supports the filament and cylindrical anode 10.

I would be formed thereon.

the other ends being embedded in the squash.

Surrounding the filament 4: is a helical grid 7 which is supported by a relatively heavy wire 8 embedded at its lower end in the squash and projecting through an aperture 9 which may extend the full length of the The anode 10 is supported by the heavy wires 11 and 12, the latter being connected with the leading-in wire 13.

If the vacuum tube is operated on an aeroplane or elsewhere under conditions such that it is subject to vibration, it is desirable to prevent an erratic operation due to a change in the relative position of the electrodes. The mounting provide-d for the electrodes prevents such vibration and this is particularly true with regard to the grid which is reinforced for instance by the wire or rod 22 to which the turns of the grid are fastened, viz, by welding.

During the evacuation of the vacuum tube 1 it is customary to heat the electrodes to a high temperature to expel occluded gases therefrom. This heating of the plate or anode causes it to vaporize to a slight extent, a metallic deposit being formed on the inner wall of the glass bulb. If the anode 10 formed a com plete surface immediately above the top of the press 3, a metallic deposit This would me tallically and hence electrically connect all the lead wires which would consequently be short circuited. This is prevented according to the present invention by removing that portion of the anode 10 immediately above the lead wires where they emerge from the press. This removal forms the slot 9.

lln assembling the electrodes, it is preferred to mount the grid in position first, then to position the anode about the grid. The slot 9 permits the anode 10 to be moved longitudinally over the grid, either the wire 5 or 6 passing along the slot for this purpose. The filament can be inserted before or after the anode has been mounted.

By way of illustration, the vacuum tube 1 is shown as connected in a conventional repeating and amplifying circuit, although it is obvious that this vacuum tube device may be employed in many other types-of circuits.

The circuit illustrated in the drawing comprises an incoming line 14, which supplies comparatively weak impulses to be amplified to the input circuit 15 of the vacuum tube, the output circuit 16 thereof supplying the amplified implses to the outgoing line 17.

The battery 18 makes the potential of the grid negative with respect to that of the filament; thebattery 19 lights the filament; and

battery 20 impressesa positive potential on the anode through the choke coil 21.

While the drawing shows the grid and anode in the shape of circular cylinders the invention is not restricted thereto as other types of cylinders may be employed.

What is claimed is: o

1. A vacuum tube device comprising a press a cathode, an anode surrounding said cathode, the inner surface of said anode being substantially concentric with said cathode, and supporting wires fastened at one extremity to said electrodes and embedde at their other extremities in said press, said wires forming the sole supporting means between said electrodes and said press and comprising means for establishing a potential difference between the electrodes.

2. A vacuum tube device comprising a press, a cathode, a grid surrounding said cathode, an anode surrounding said grid and cathode, and supporting wires connected at one extremity to said electrodes and at their other extremities to said press, said wires forming the sole supporting means between said electrodes and said press.

3. A vacuum tube device comprising an inwardly projecting tubular portion terminating in a press, a cathode, an anode, the inner surface of said anode being substantially concentric with said cathode, said electrodes being symmetrically disposed about an axis substantially at right angles to the axis of said tubular portion, and supports for said electrodes, said supports comprising means for establishing a potential difference between said electrodes.

4. A vacuum tube device comprising a tubular portion terminating in a press, a cathode, a grid surrounding said cathode, an anode surrounding said grid and cathode, said electrodes being symmetrically disposed about an axis substantially at right angles to the axis of said tubular portion, and means for supporting said electrodes.

, 5. A vacuum tube comprising a tubular portion terminating in a press, a cathode, a

grid surrounding said cathode, an anode surrounding said'grid and cathode, said electrodes being symmetrically disposed about an axis at right angles to the axis of said tubular portion, and heavy wires for supporting said electrodes, said wires being connected at one end to said electrodes and being embedded at their other ends in said press.

6-. A vacuum tube device comprising a tubular portion terminating in a press, a helical grid, an anode surrounding said grid, 21 straight filament within said grid and'extending along the axis thereof, said electrodes being symmetrically disposed about an axis at right angles to the axis of said tubular portion, and supporting wires connected at one end to said electrodes and having their other ends embedded in said press. I

7. A vacuum tube device comprising a press, a helical grid extending substantially parallel to thetop'of said press, a filament within said grid, a cylindrical anode outside of said grid,.and lead wires in said press for said electrodes, said anode having a slot at the side thereof adjacent said press.

8. A vacuum tube comprising a press, anode, cathode and grid electrodes adjacent said press, and metallic means connecting said electrodes and said press, and forming the sole support for said electrodes.

' 9. A vacuum tube comprising a press, anode, cathode and control electrodes adjacent said press, and a plurality of supporting wires connecting said press and said electrodes, at least two of said wires supporting said cathode, at least two of said wires supporting said anode, and at least one of said wires supporting said control electrode.

10. A vacuum tube device comprising a press, a helical electrode extending substantially parallel to the top of said press, means for supporting said electrode, and a wire fastened to the turns of said electrode.

11. A vacuum tube device comprising a press, a helical electrode extending across the top of said press, means for connecting said electrode to said press, and means for preventing vibration of said helical electrode.

12. A vacuum tube device comprising a press, a helical grid extending across the top of said press, a wire extending across the turns of said grid and welded thereto, an anole, and a cathode associated with said grl 13. The method of making a vacuum tube having a cylindrical grid, a cylindrical anode and a filament which comprises providing an aperture in the wall of said anode, in relatively moving the support for one of said other electrodes "with respect to and in said aperture, and in fastening said electrodes in position.

1 1-. The method of making a vacuum tube having a grid, a cylindrical anode and a filament which comprises providing an aperture in the wall of said anode, in supporting one of said other electrodes, in moving said aperture across the support to position the electrodes, and in fastening said electrodes in position.

15. A vacuum tube comprising a press, anode, cathode, and grid electrodes adjacent 1 for said electrodes.

17. A vacuum tube comprising a press, a cathode, a helical grid surrounding said cathode, an anode surrounding said grid, and metallic means connecting said electrodes and said press and forming the sole support for said electrodes.

18. A vacuum tube comprising a. press, an electrode extending across the top of said press, said electrode having a discontinuous surface at the portion thereof adjacent the top of said press, a second electrode operativcly associated with said first electrode, and a plurality of lead Wires extending from said press, said lead wiressupporting said electrodes and comprising means for establishing a potential diilerence between said electrodes.

19. A vacuum tube comprising a stem, anode, cathode and grid electrodes adjacent said stem, said electrodes being arranged substantially concentric with each other and metallic means for supporting said electrodes from said stem.

20. An electron discharge device comprising a vessel having a stem, a cylindrical anode,

a cathode, a grid interposed between said cath ode and anode, said last named electrodes being arranged coaxial with said anode, and metallic supporting connections between said stem and said electrodes; a

21. An electron discharge device comprising a vessel having a stem, a cylindrical anode supported by said stem, a filamentary cathode coaxial with said anode, a helical control electrode interposed between said cathode and anode, and metallic supporting connections between said stem and said control electrode and cathode.

22. An electron discharge device comprising a vessel having a stem, a cylindrical anode having a metallic supporting connection with said stem, a filamentary cathode and helical grid within said anode, and metallic supporting connections between said electrodes and said stem. 4

23. An electron discharge device comprising a vessel having a stem, a pair of supporting wires secured in and extending above said stem, a filament extending between saidv wires, a helical grid, and a substantially cylindrical anode, said last-named cathode and grid being coaxial with said filament.

24. A vacuum tube comprising a stem, concentric anode, cathode and grid electrodes having their axes substantially at right angles to the axis of said stem, and metallic meansv for supporting said electrodes from said stem. In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this'21st day of November, A. D.,

HENDRIK J. VAN DER BIJL.

DISCLAIM ER 1,738,269. Hendrik J. van der Bijl, New York, N. Y. ELECTRON-DISCHARGE DEVICE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME. Patent dated December 3, 1929. Disclaimer filed September 20, 1933, by the assignee, Western Electric Company, Incorporated, and the patentees.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to the said claim of said Letters Patent which is in the following words to Wit:

A vacuum tube comprising a press, a cathode,'a helical grid surrounding said cathode, an anode surrounding said grid, and metallic means connecting said electrodes and said press and forming the sole support for said electrodes.

[Oflicial Gazette October 10, 1.933.] 

